You and your aging parent have decided that they will stay at home instead of moving to a nursing home facility. The question now is whether you can handle their needs yourself or if you should get help from people who specialize in senior care in your area. You will find that as the health of your parent demands more time and attention from you, you will feel stretched to be able to help. Plan ahead for the following needs when you could use someone else to help care for your parent.

Daily Hygiene

Your parent may need more help with their daily hygiene routine as they age. Getting in and out of the bathtub may be a challenge, as well as simple tasks such as brushing their teeth. Having a home care aide available to help during those times makes sure those important tasks get done, even if your parent is resistant. You may feel uncomfortable pushing your parent to do those tasks when they become uncooperative.

Physical Exercise

Your parent needs some daily physical activity to keep their muscles from atrophying. It also helps their bones to stay healthy, improves their circulation and reduces heart issues. This is a good job for a physical therapist once or twice a week. They know how to work on the various muscle groups so your parent can stay mobile and limber.

Transportation

Taking your parent to a doctor appointment becomes more difficult as their mobility level decreases. Having someone available to help with this reduces the risk of injury to your parent should they fall on the way to the car. Non-emergency ambulance services, sometimes listed as a medi-cab, have staff trained in moving people safely from your home to their vehicle and to the doctor's office.

Adapting to Daily Activities

Depending on the nature of your parent's medical condition, they may struggle with little things such as putting on their pants or opening a jar. A regular visit by an occupational therapist will help your parent retain their independence by showing them how to do some difficult daily tasks. The therapist can show how simple tools can be a help, such as a rod with a hook at the end to help your parent get dressed. They can also suggest equipment you can purchase to help, such as a shower chair to make bathing easier.

As you plan ahead for taking care of your aging parent at home, consider those times for which you should have some help. Home care aides and therapists are trained to assist with the above situations. Keep your parent safe and healthy by using this outside help.